"I Sent Him There Believing It Was Safe"... Police Investigate Special School Abuse Allegations

Police have launched a preliminary investigation following allegations that an elementary school student with severe disabilities was abused by their homeroom teacher.

The Women and Youth Crime Investigation Unit of the Incheon Metropolitan Police Agency is currently investigating Teacher A, the homeroom teacher at a special school in Incheon who is suspected of child abuse.

Police reportedly initiated the preliminary investigation after receiving a report that Teacher A physically abused Student B, a fifth-grader with severe autistic disorder, at the school on August 25.

According to police, Student B's parents discovered bruises and wounds on the child's neck, chest, armpits, and inner arms on the same day and reported the incident to 112.

According to Student B's mother, Teacher A explained at the time, "The child kept crying, and I tried to go with him to the psychological stabilization room, but he refused, so force was applied while holding and moving him. Afterwards, the child threw punches, and bruises formed while grabbing his arms to restrain him."

However, Student B's mother expressed frustration, stating, "If she just grabbed and restrained his arms, it is hard to understand why bruises and wounds appeared on areas like his neck, chest, and inner armpits." She added, "I visited the school the next day and met with the principal and vice principal, but they explained it as something they were hearing for the first time."

She went on to complain, "I have to ask who the psychological stabilization room is really for, considering my child feels even more anxious, cries, and wants to leave. Since the incident, I have repeatedly requested the separation of the homeroom teacher and the child, but I have not received any answers regarding practical separation and protection measures from the Office of Education and the school."

Student B's mother expressed particular anguish given that the child was previously a victim of habitual abuse by childcare workers at a public daycare center in Incheon in 2020.

At that time, six childcare workers from the daycare center and the director, who turned a blind eye to the abuse, were sent to trial and sentenced to prison terms in both the first and second instances.

Student B's mother stated, "I sent him to a special school believing that he would be safe, but now he cannot even go to school," adding, "I am not simply asking for a specific teacher to be punished unconditionally, but I hope they will objectively verify what happened and whether the school's response was appropriate."

A police official stated, "Taking into consideration the difficulty the child with a disability has in making a detailed statement, we are securing relevant evidence, including closed-circuit (CC) TV footage, to determine if there are any criminal charges."

(Photo provided by the victim, Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.